“30 Inches (Remix)” [ft. Gucci Mane and Project Pat]

Whether you ride for the Hypnotized Camp's horrorcore origins, its national breakthrough years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, or Da Unbreakables/"Stay Fly"/Grammy award-winning late period peak, it's hard not to notice that 2009 Three 6 Mafia releases are feeling a little safe. Pulling a Big Pun by sampling the O'Jays "Darlin Darlin Baby" then melding it to Memphis trunk-shuddering 808s, is a surefire formula, but it's been six years since their last creative reinvention; no matter how much emotional resonance is packed into this tribute to car culture, there's a subtle feeling of "so, this again." Added to that is the diluted power of the Three 6 "Mafia," finally stripped down to two members recording separate solo records. This beat deserves better.

But DJ Paul and Juicy J's not-so-secret weapon has always been taste in collaborators; from T-Rock to Gangsta Boo, Project Pat to Lil Flip, the group's strength has been as much about alliance-building as it has taste in classic soul. Gucci Mane's verse, brief as it is, steals the show. Partly it's just great to hear Gucci over such an emotive track after recording over hundreds of cold-textured Zaytoven synth beats. But more than that, timing is everything. Just as the Juicy J original feels dated, the remix sounds like now. Gucci's stock has never been higher, and his verse has a zeitgeist-embracing vibrancy. His lyrical creativity, fresh imagery ("Girl please! Chevy so high, baby do you see the trees?/ Crawlin down the block, 30s slidin' like skis") and the emerging nature of his prolific talent allows Juicy J to bottle lightning once again, even if only for a few bars.